Reed



May 15, 1945. S..J. LUcs 2,375,934

REED

Filed Jan. 28,v 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 @f Wwf Patented May 15, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REED Stephen J. Lucas, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 28, 1942, Serial No. 428,527

2 Claims.

'This invention relates to a reed for Wind instruments and is an improvement over my Patent #2,319,419 issued May 18, 1943.

The particular object of this invention is to provide a reed of definite structural features and dimensions which can be produced in dies from plastics and mounted in accurate coacting position on the mouth pieces of instruments, to produce sound waves of improved quality and amplitude with the least expenditure of energy.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed in the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of my new improved reed and is for a baritone saxophone with dimension lines in dotted outline as will later be explained;

Fig. 2 is a similar bottom plan View of my improved reed for E flat clarinet with dotted dimension lines;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of a reed for E iiat'alto saxophone with dimension lines;

Fig` 4 is a side elevation view of my special mouth piece and associated reed showing the coacting assembly features which will later be explained; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the mouth piece and reed shown in Fig. 4.

Now referring to the drawings and in the outset to Figs. l and 2 I show bottom plan views of my reeds with dimension lines in dotted outline. At the right hand side of the drawings I show the thickness of the reed on the top of the dotted outline dimensionlines. At these points indicated by A to E inclusive, the thickness dimension of the reed is clearly indicated by dimensions in inches. At the left hand side of the figure, I show the dimensions at the rear or outside edges of the dimension lines by the designations Ar to Er. It will be noted that the dimensions A to E'are exactly similar, and therefore the reed is of the same thickness along the dotted dimension lines as shown. It will be further noted that the longitudinal distances marked L-I to L-5 are considerably shorter than the edge dimensions marked Lr-l and Lr-. It will be appreciated that the central tongue section F outlined by the dash lines radiating from the V-shaped bridge is considerably shorter than the side sections S although all the tongue sections have exactly similar thickness dimensions as indicated by the dotted dimension lines. This has the effect of creating one central vibrating tongue section and dual vibrating side sections which vastly increases the vibrating areas and produces sound waves of improved quality and amplitude with the least expenditure of energy.

Many attempts have been made in this art to produce reeds from plastics, but such attempts, in the experience of this applicant, have neither produced satisfactory results nor attained any commercial success. reeds made from plastics unlike reeds made from natural Wood bers have a homogeneous uniform structure with physical properties accurately within the control of the manufacturer. When the proper principles of reed construction are understood and applied, reeds of uniform quality and effectiveness can be manufactured, provided that the dimensions are held within lAOOO of an inch, and the physical properties of the plastics are uniformly maintained. In like manner reeds may be made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, due consideration being given to the physical properties of the metal. I have succeeded in producing reeds of uniform quality and pitch as has been amply proven by laboratory tests and eld trials. Because of this uniformity in my reeds, I am able to fix the reed in definite relationship on the mouth piece, and for this purpose I provide the key slot, Ks, as shown in Fig. 1 which coacts with the key, K, as shown in Fig. 4, to assemble the reed and mouth piece in accurate relationship as shown in Fig. 5, and as will later be more fully explained.

Now referring to Fig. 2, I show a similar bottom plan viewlto Fig. 1, only in this instance I illustrate an E flatk clarinet reed. This reed is much smaller than the baritone saxophone reed shown in Fig. 1, as indicated by the relative size of the figures. Similarly to Fig. 1, I have shown the thickness dimensions of the tongue portion of the reed Iby the dimensions A to F in the center, as compared to the dimensions Ar to Fr on the sides. 'It will be noted that the same or similar proportions of the dimensions L and LR exist and that by such proportions and dimensions I am enabled to construct a uniformly accurate and eiiective E flat clarinet reed.

Now referring to Fig. 3, I show a side elevation View of an E' flat alto saxophone reed and have indicated by dimensions, the proportions of the elements whereby an E flat alto saxophone reed may be produced.

Now referring to Fig. 4, I show my special mouth piece M having an upstanding' key, K, on the bottom face reed to fit the key slot, Ks, in a standard form of my plastic reed, R.

When the mouth piece and reed are assembled as shown in Fig, 5 it will be appreciated that the It will be appreciated thatl key, K, and key slot, Ks, will hold the reed in a definite fixed relationship with the mouth piece M. The reed is thus held in clamped xed position by a connector clamp or ligature over the surface of the reed and mouth piece as dened by the area between the dash lines by the dimension C. It Will be appreciated that the clamp bearing on the base of the reed as dened by the area C permits the tongue of the reed to be free over the ,openingy O in the mouth piece as is well understood in the/art. However, in order to produce the best results I have made the opening in my mouth piece, M, with a base projection, Op, for the purpose of assisting diversion of the side- Wise air `currents as are developed by reeds con-g structed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

I have discovered that with plastic reeds props i 'erly manufactured from accurate dies embodying the principles of my invention it is advantageous- 1. In a reed for musical instruments, a rela.- tively thick stiff base portion, a tongue, a bridge stiffener section extending from the base into the tongue, the arrangement providing a relatively short active front tongue section and dual coacting active side sections, with al1 three active sections tapering smoothly outwardly from about .045 inch at the bridge to about .ODG-.008 inch at the edges for plastic reeds, and key means integral with thereed to position the reed in positive relationshipwith an associated mouthpiece.

2. In a reed for musical instruments, a relatively thick stiff base portion, a tongue, a pointed outwardly tapering bridge stiffener section extending from the base centrally into the tongue, the arrangement providing a relatively short active front tongue section and dual coacting active side sections, with all three active sections tapering smoothly outwardly from about .045 inch at thefbridge to about .006-.008 inch at the edges for plastic-reeds, said` dimensions being proportioned to thephysical properties for metallic reeds, and key means integral With the reed to position the reed in positive ,relationship with an associated mouth piece.

STEPHEN J. LUCAS. 

